U.s., Egypt Plan Exercise Near Libya

August 24, 1986|By Washington Post

WASHINGTON — The United States and Egypt plan to conduct joint air and sea exercises off Libya this week, U.S. officials said Saturday.

The maneuvers, named Sea Wind, will be conducted in the Tripoli Flight Information Region in the Mediterranean off Libya but are expected to stay outside the Gulf of Sidra, which Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has claimed as his territory, officials said. U.S. and Egyptian warplanes, two aircraft carriers and amphibious forces will participate in the weeklong exercise.

Pentagon officials Saturday described Sea Wind as routine U.S.-Egyptian exercises that have been planned for months. They said the operations are not a prelude to new military action against Libya.

Western intelligence agencies reported in recent weeks that Gadhafi is under challenge at home, apparently by some of the leaders of his military.

U.S. ships and aircraft are not expected to cross the ''line of death'' Gadhafi has imposed across the Gulf of Sidra.

However, the officials said the air and sea exercises could escalate into conflict if the Libyan air force or navy tries to attack U.S. or Egyptian forces.

The Egyptians will fly F-16 fighter-bombers out of their West Cairo base. The F-16s will maneuver with and against F-14 fighters from two carriers. The USS Forrestal is in the central Mediterranean and will be joined by the USS John F. Kennedy, which left Norfolk on Monday.